Gun-rights groups plan to appeal Tuesday’s federal court decision that the SAFE Act does not infringe on Second Amendment rights.

The judge ruled that the assault weapons ban was constitutional, but rejected the seven-round magazine limit.

Gun-rights groups including the state Rifle and Pistol Association filed a notice of appeal today.

Some think there is a possibility this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court.

The tougher gun control law was passed almost a year ago in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Eric Schniederman says the state will appeal the parts of the decision that were struck down.

Safety for Alzheimer's Patients Particularly Important in Frigid Weather

In this very cold weather, it’s imperative for caretakers and families of Alzheimer’s patients to be cautious and observant.

Leilani Pelletier, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York, says in the progression of the disease, people with dementia will inexplicably leave familiar surroundings, potentially endangering themselves in the cold weather.

“Dementia of any form – Alzheimer’s or any form – disorients a person,” she said. “And for those who are dealing with this it’s not that they’re necessarily doing anything wrong, it’s just very hard to predict how someone with dementia is going to be triggered or start thinking about something.”

“There’s sometimes an urge to go – an urge to go to work, an urge to go take care of something that a person with dementia can’t necessarily identify and they just feel the need to go,” Pelletier said. “It happens with most people with dementia.”

There are several things families or caregivers can do to protect those with Alzheimer’s from wandering from home like getting motion censors for doors from the hardware store to know when they open or moving locks out of reach.

But most importantly, Pelletier says to listen.

“More important is to understand why they want to go,” she said. “What’s motivating them to get out the door? If someone starts fidgeting or talking about going to work or seeing the grandkids or something along those lines, that is a sign to you that the person is having an urge to go and you have to address it.”

“Using logic and reason and explaining why that’s not a good idea is not helpful,” Pelletier said. “The idea is that that person’s expressing an emotion – a feeling – and that’s what you have to address. Give that person something to nurture, something to do, something to love that will channel that energy. Use that energy instead of fighting and saying why that’s not practical take the essence of what that energy is and do something creative with it.”

Other ways to help are by sticking to a routine so those with dementia don’t get overwhelmed or over-stimulated.

UMMC Announces First Baby of 2014

United Memorial Medical Center welcomed the first baby born within Genesee County in the New Year, 2014.

Aliyah Ann Miller, a baby girl, was born to Rachel Pitz and Carl Miller of Lancaster, N.Y., on Wed. Jan. 1 at 6:43 p.m. at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Aliyah is the second daughter for the family. Baby Aliyah weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19 inches long. She was delivered by John C. Jaeger, MD.

Pitz is employed at Logistic Dynamics in Williamsville and Miller works for ECH Recovery & Associates in Lancaster.

As the New Year’s baby, Aliyah and her parents received a $200 gift card to a local department store and an engraved feeding spoon from United Memorial and a gift basket from the Maternity Unit staff.